I have a love-hate relationship with The Google. Just search “essential oils” and you’ll get every opinion humanly possibly thrown at you, which has stirred up a frenzy of confusion and misguided advice.

I also hold a love-hate sentiment about our beloved 1st Amendment. People can say whatever they want on their blog and this leads more people astray than you might think. Hey, if it’s on the Internet, it must be true, right? Wrong! There are several “Million Dollar Bloggers” (as I like to call them) out there with absolutely no training or qualifications whatsoever to write on health care issues, and they’re literally making tens of thousands of dollars a month in advertising and affiliate sales because they have amassed a huge following. Sometimes, just sometimes, I wish that we didn’t have as much freedom of speech.

With that said, as the essential oil frenzy reaches fever pitch, it’s important to read everything we see with a grain of salt. This is particularly true with controversial issues like essential oil use in pregnant mamas and babies in utero!

Because of the mashup of information out there, it’s crucial to hold ourselves accountable by following one of the lesser known Bible commands:

“Test all things, and hold fast to that which is good.” (I Thessalonians 5:21)

So, let’s do just that…

New to essential oils? Get your free copy of our eBook The Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils where you’ll learn the benefits of different oils, what they’re used for and how to get started.

An Evidence-Based Take on Essential Oils & Pregnancy

Although there are innumerable false claims on the Internet about essential oils and pregnancy, I have found that these 5 are the most misleading.

1. Certain oils are not safe during pregnancy.

There are several arbitrary lists of oils floating around out there claiming that several oils are NOT safe for use during pregnancy. Although this may be true in some, select cases, by far most essential oils are safe for aromatic, topical and in many cases internal usage.

It is important to remember that clinical trials testing the safety of essential oils and pregnant women are extremely limited. We also need to keep in mind that some essential oils are harmful during pregnancy just as they are harmful for all people regardless if they are pregnant or not. However, that doesn’t mean that bloggers can run wild and arbitrarily advise against using certain oils and compounds without having a legitimate reason for doing so!

My wife, for instance, used both herbs in dried and essential oil form quite extensively during her three pregnancies and home births, and sings their praises. On the other hand, is it possible for someone else to experience an adverse reaction to the same herbs and oils that she used? Sure! Anyone could be allergic or sensitive to anything, but both cases are regarded as anecdotal evidence and conclusions cannot be made based off of them. The problem is that we don’t have the research to support or deny either case, and many people are basing their opinion off of anecdotal evidence.

Furthermore, to warn people to “err on the side of caution,” is misleading and instills fear that essential oils are dangerous or inherently harmful. When it comes to essential oils, I have found that they are a victim of misrepresentation because they are commonly referred to as concentrated versions of their original sources. Although this may be the true in some situations, it is not that simple. Let’s take frankincense, for example. It is generally understood that,

“Boswellia Species is reported to contain 60-85% resins (mixtures of terpenes), 6-30% gums (mixture of polysaccharides), and 5-9% essential oil. Resin portion is composed of pentacyclic triterpenes, in which boswellic acid is the active functional group.Gum portion consists of pentose and hexose sugars with some oxidizing and digestive enzymes. The essential oil is a mixture of monoterpenes, diterpenes, and sesquiterpenes. (1)

We see the same with all essential oils. They contain different biochemical makeups than their original sources and, because of this, the two are not synonymous. This is why some people have allergic reactions to cinnamon powder, let’s say, but do very well with cinnamon essential oil.

Penny Lane DNP, CNM, IBCLC, has said it best, “It is true that essential oils are powerful substances, but used knowledgeably and with due diligence, pose little to no threat to one’s health.” (2)

“Due to the lack of clear information regarding the toxicity of essential oils during pregnancy,” The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) states, “It would be best to adhere to general safety guidelines” which is sound advice. (3) And, as such, general safety guidelines state that pregnant women would be wise to avoid these oils for a variety of reasons: wormwood, rue, oak moss, Lavandula stoechas, camphor, parsley seed, sage, and hyssop. (3)

If you’re concerned about oils, rest assured that many are regarded to be safe and NAHA confirms this. “Essential oils that appear to be safe include cardamon, German and Roman chamomile, frankincense, geranium, ginger, neroli, patchouli, petitgrain, rosewood, rose, sandalwood, and other nontoxic essential oils.” (3)

2. Essential oils are not safe for babies in utero.

The same thing can be said about the internal or topical use of oils on pregnant women harming their babies in utero. There is little to no research on this subject. In the words of the book Aromatherapy for Health Professionals,

“There is no available evidence that any natural essential oil has ever provoked mutagenicity or teratogenicity in an embryo or developing fetus. No tests have ever been carried out because the possibility of fragrant materials causing either genetic mutation or malformation is regarded as unlikely.” (4)

The bottom line is that, contrary to popular opinion, dangers linked with the internal use of certain essential oils in pregnant and nursing Mamas is not supported by the literature. Again, certain oils like blue tansy and wintergreen are always contraindicated for internal use, so let’s not throw the baby out the bathwater (pun intended). Women have and will continue to use essential oils and plant extracts while pregnant with no adverse effects to their babies. As long as they are used wisely and with standard safety guidelines in mind, all should go well. Keep in mind, however, that because they cross the placenta, everything Mama gets, Baby will get. In the case of essential oils, whether taken orally, topically or aromatically this can be a very good thing.

If you have any doubt, simply follow the safety guidelines of established experts and national organizations like NAHA and you can rest assured that you will be in good hands. More on that below…

The theory about peppermint being a uterine stimulant is simply not founded on science. In fact, just the opposite. Clinical research has actually shown that, like geranium and lavender, peppermint essential oil is a spasmolytic; meaning that it helps relieve smooth muscle spasm and can calm the uterus. (5)

Same thing with the claim about decreased milk supply. An article published Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research emphatically states that, “It has not been reported any data about toxic effects of using peppermint during pregnancy and breast feeding.” (3)

I’m telling you, I’ve searched far & wide to find anything about it in the literature and it just doesn’t exist. It’s an old wives tale. My wife bagged over 1,000 ounces of milk in her first month of nursing, and she regularly used peppermint oil and drank peppermint tea – BUT this isn’t “proof.” I cannot make the blanket statement that women use peppermint oil to boost their supply simply because of my wife’s experience. Likewise, I will not deny the possibility of a mother experiencing adverse effect to peppermint and producing less milk.

There are a plethora of benefits pregnant women can be enjoying with the regular use of peppermint tea and essential oil, yet many are so afraid of the supposed side-effects, they avoid it like the plague!

A 2004 article published in the Complementary Therapies in Nursing Midwifery sums it up best. Comparing ginger, peppermint and cannabis the researchers discovered that,

“Only ginger has been subjected to clinical trials among pregnant women, though all three herbs were clinically effective against nausea and vomiting in other contexts, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and post-operative nausea. While safety concerns exist in the literature for all three herbs with regards to their use by pregnant women, clinical evidence of harm is lacking.” (6)

The bottom line is this when it comes to peppermint side effects:

They are not proven clinically.

I have never heard of it personally in our midwifery/home birth circles.

Another myth that throws me through a loop, there is absolutely no research suggesting that frankincense essential oil is an abortifacient or emmenagogue (meaning that it can stimulate uterine blood flow and cause menstruation). Nothing in PubMed or any university website that has any reputation worthwhile will report this.

The only decent information that I could find to help sort out this nonsense comes from a LIVESTRONG article. Again, nothing peer-reviewed, but at least this writer seems to have a level head on her shoulders.

Conclusions about the safety of frankincense during pregnancy are conflicting. Frankincense has sometimes been classified as an abortifacient or emmenagogue — a stimulator of absent menstrual flow and thus possibly at times an early abortifacient. Until further research is conducted, herbalist Denise Tiran recommends that potential emmenagogues, including frankincense, be generally avoided during pregnancy, at least during the first trimester. Aromatherapist Maria Lis-Balchin considers it safe for pregnant women to inhale frankincense, but advises caution in massage with the essential oil, which in the laboratory it is known to relax uterine muscle. According to Simon Mills and Kerry Bone’s herbal safety manual, frankincense has received an Australian government pregnancy category B1 classification. In other words, according to limited human and animal studies, there is no evidence to date that frankincense causes fetal harm. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor whether and which form of frankincense is safe for you and your baby. (8)

It seems the claim that frankincense essential oil can cause a spontaneous abortion is not necessarily about the oil, but about frankincense as a whole. With that said, it is interesting to note that:

Nearly 30% of Iranian women use frankincense during their pregnancies, which suggests that it is extremely safe; or else one-third of their population would be regularly exposed to mutagens and become diseased. (9)

According to a 2013 article published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine,learning and memory performance is enhanced in the offspring of the mothers who consumed frankincense extracts during their pregnancy. (10)

A study published in the journal International Journal of Preventative Medicine this past May explained similar results. “Oral administration of Boswellia extract during pregnancy and lactation strengthens short-and long-term memory in infants in field models. Further, administration of the extract during pregnancy causes an increase in the size of the neurons in pyramidal cells of the hippocampus CA3 area as well as increase in the number of dendritic process in these cells. Extract administration during lactation promotes memory function in infants through increasing cell volume, neurotransmitters release and number of synaptic contacts.” (11)

The bottom line is that, as we have seen above, the many forms of frankincense (essential oil, extract, and resin) are widely used across the world and there is a growing body of research supporting its use in pregnant women. To refrain from enjoying its benefits because of misguided myths that it can cause an abortion, seems absolutely absurd.

5. Contact your OB/GYN or midwife before you use them.

When you read the disclaimer, “Contact your OB/GYN or midwife before you use essential oils” on a blog, someone is trying to evade the legal responsibility of giving medical advice. We all do it, but it really means nothing. In many cases, like the recommendation of having people ask their doctor or midwife about oils is quite misleading and, in fact, is a cop-out.

As a licensed chiropractor, I am trained primary care physician and I can tell you this with certainty: DCs, DOs, and MDs do not learn about essential oils in school. Sadly, all three curriculums focus on toxicology and how pharmaceuticals interact with the human body. If, by chance, alternative therapies like essential oils are mentioned in chiropractic college or medical school, it’s a cursory approach at best and nothing in depth is discussed.

As a trained public health researcher, I can tell you we are taught how to evaluate and summarize data from medical studies; not give advice on clinical matters. It has taken me several years of coursework, personal mentorship and a lot of trial & error to help me understand research in a way that makes sense. Yet, that still does NOT qualify me as an “essential oils” expert.

Even my aromatherapy training doesn’t qualify me as an “expert.” And the problem with listening to Aromatherapists is that their opinion is largely based off the geographic location where they studied. U.S. aromatherapy schools, for example, are traditionally reserved and most strongly advise against the internal use of oils. Whereas, European schools are much more liberal and enjoy a wider spectrum of essential oil usage. French and German Aromatherapists, for example, regularly give essential oils orally. (12)

Regarding midwives, they receive very little (if any) “formal” training of any kind that would qualify them as essential oil authorities.

Truth is, very few people truly understand essential oil chemistry, which would qualify them as a valid resource for use guides and protocol advice. And I am not one of them!

The bottom line is this:

Take responsibility of your own health and the health of your family.

Do your own homework.

Be a voracious reader and researcher.

Learn the basics.

And don’t blindly trust anyone just because you see it in print!

At the end of the day, God has given each of us a discerning spirit and the cognitive ability to make wise decisions. My hope is that you discover that essential oils can be used in a wide variety of ways for the entire family like we have. But don’t take my word for it! You need to come to this conclusion yourself.

About Dr. Eric Z

Eric L. Zielinski, DC, MPH (c) has devoted his life to natural health and wellness for over a decade. Inspired by the timeless principles in the Bible, Dr. Z’s mission is to provide people with simple, evidenced-based tools that they need to achieve the Abundant Life. Formally trained as a chiropractor and public health researcher, Dr. Z’s primary interests are in Urban Homesteading, natural health care, and empowering life strategies. He and his wife Sabrina live in Atlanta, GA with their three children Esther, Isaiah, and Elijah. You can visit Eric at DrEricZ.com and follow Dr Eric Z on Facebook.

Comments

I have to disagree. Dr. Z is hardly an unbiased source, considering he himself is making money through essential oils (his website has a summit, ebook, and newsletter about EOs and I’d go so far as to venture that he is also somehow involved in an EO company (as are you). Quite funny since he starts off my bashing “million dollar bloggers” who make money on their websites. To say that it is misleading that sources say women should “Contact your OB/GYN or midwife before you use them,” is reckless and dangerous. Women should talk to their own healthcare specialists before taking any herb, drug or remedy, especially while pregnant and to say otherwise is absurd. If they should not consult with a doctor or midwife, who should they consult with… their friendly local MLM rep?

Dr. Z’s experience is in essential oils, while your OB/GYN’s have zero experience in this area. To say that you shouldn’t consult someone who knows nothing about a topic about that particular topic is not reckless and dangerous – it’s wisdom. Doctors do not know everything, in fact their knowledge is limited to what they studied, and who pays them to sell their drugs. Even then, unless they are perpetual learners they are not necessarily current in their field. He recommended that people be wise and do their own research, take responsibility for their own health, and not trust everything you read, including from white coats – now there’s someone who’s career depends on sick people remaining sick $$$. If Dr. Z is making money from EOs, as you say, then what does he have to gain by giving false, misleading, and/or harmful information?? It’s his reputation and his livelihood at stake.

So true. I was reading another article last week on how everyone quotes aromatherapists as experts because they’ve been trained in the safe useage of oils. Um, no, they haven’t. They’ve been trained using oils which are not meant for internal use, so of course they’ve been trained that oils are not safe to ingest or use in ways other than an aromatherapist or massage therapist would use them. Things change when you’re using real pure oils that are certified safe and when you’re looking at them medically vs for their scent.

Aromatherapists receive training for a variety of purposes – some prefer to use oils for topical and inhaled use, others use them internally, and some use combinations. Each aromatherapist will recommend oils based on his or her level of comfort and experience. To make a blanket statement that aromatherapists do not promote internal use because they use inferior oils is patently false.

An aromatherapist that has completed appropriate training (not a free online course) will know how to evaluate oils for various uses and to obtain and interpret test data to ensure their products are as pure as possible. Every brand can have issues with oils – even those that claim to be ‘certified pure.’ Training helps you to recognize when something isn’t quite right and question your sources.

I really think the key to this article, as Dr. Z states, is that you have to do your homework, research your products, and use them carefully. There is a lot of new research on the use of essential oils and it is very promising. Just like anything you put in your body, you owe it to yourself to understand what it does and not follow a meme or a blogger’s advice.

Thank you for this great article! Finally, an evidence-based article that is balanced and truthful! I think one thing to point out is the purity of various brands of essential oils. Not all oils are made alike, and not all are 100% pure. That’s why I only use (brand name removed) brand oils because there is no doubt in my mind about what I am putting into my body or in my family. The only oil I recommend a pregnant woman not use is Clary Sage due to the role it plays on hormones and as a uterine tonic, but really there’s no data for that either. On one hand, it can be an antispasmodic making me think it wouldn’t bring on labor, but it has also been effective at making contractions stronger and more effective. So I usually say to not use it just as a precaution but that there’s no literature to really back it up. I highly recommend it for labor and delivery as well as post-partum for starting milk production, helping balance the hormones, and help with postpartum depression.

Your input is quite valuable, and although we don’t want to start an “essential oil war” and discuss brands, you are right: Choosing a pure therapeutic grade is absolutely necessary

To your point about clary sage, the jury is still out. My wife used clary sage quite extensively during her 3 pregnancies and home births with no side effects, and only positive results. Yet, you are correct, my wife’s story isn’t “proof” that clary sage is safe for every pregnant Mama, but it can help put someone’s mind to rest that, if the research is silent on a topic, then we can still use personal experience as a guide.

I used all the oils, whenever it was reasonable, during my last pregnancy. Best pregnancy ever! I studied midwifery and had a decent bag of tricks for dealing with the possibly discomforts of pregnancy but this time was totally different. It was awesome. I feel badly for those who are scared away from such simple measures. But it comes back to my previous experience and trust of the oils I was using. I actually started bleeding at 9 weeks. Not spotting, but gushing. I have a belief that the body knows what it is doing and you don’t always want to stop a miscarriage. I also know that eos generally don’t force an action. I knew that lavender is calming and frankincense helps everything so I applied both to my abdomen and went to bed thinking that at least I would be emotionally calmed. Within moments the cramping stopped and the bleeding slowed. I continued applying those oils quite frequently and stayed down for a few days. I had no further bleeding. Perhaps it would have stopped on it’s own. I applied frankincense to my abdomen throughout the pregnancy as a gift to my baby. He is now a vibrant 3 year old. But this is just anecdotal. Thank you for laying out the facts and empowering women and families to make rational descisons without fear. I am excited to see the growing awareness of essential oils. I do find it remarkable that the blogs cautioning against certain oils or usage methods are generally the same blogs that say brand doesn’t matter. Quality is everything and the only way to know what you are getting is to know the company.

Thank you for this article. Wish I would have know about essential oils during my first pregnancy. I was wondering about the safety of oils for babies and children. I have seen a lot of oils used on babies that elsewhere I have read is unsafe. With two precious babies of my own I want to nurture and help not harm. Thanks

Thanks for the article and comments. We’re going on our 7th baby. All home births. Doctors scare the life out of me! Seems they make a medical emergency out of everything! I have looked up every oil that I have in my cabinet and it seems that most of them aren’t to be used in pregnancy. I can understand some like perhaps myrrh and clary sage, which I intend to use for after the baby is born to help with after birth pains, along with Helichrysum. But all the other precautions simply didn’t make sense to me. I love an Epsom salt bath with frankincense, ylang-lang, and rose. I’m past my first trimester and so far, so good. I think it’s probably good to how your body handles certain oils before experimenting in pregnancy. For example, as much as it’s hyped up, I can’t stand lavender! The smell makes me nauseous and I don’t like the feel of it on my skin. So, obviously I stay away from that one. :) I would be interested in knowing if anyone has good suggestions for adrenal fatigue in pregnancy. I’m taking the typical adrenal supplements (B6, B5, cal/mag, etc) but wondered if there was an eo that would help. This is my first pregnancy with adrenal fatigue.

BASIL! I use it at 10% dilution on rub it directly on my adrenals morning and night. It’s strong so you could even start with a smaller dose and see how you go. Also Tulsi tea (Holy Basil) is AMAZING! Dr Axe has written a wonderful article – http://draxe.com/3-steps-to-heal-adrenal-fatigue/

Thank you for writing this! I have to say that I have a love/hate relationship with Google in relation to essential oils as well!! I continue to ask God for wisdom in relation to it and He certainly provides it. I am a nursing Mum and have never put any restrictions on myself in relation to the use of oils. I use them on a needs basis… The only thing that has affected my nursing is using Basil (for adrenal fatigue), talk about a great way to boost your milk supply!! Imagine if everyone used Clary Sage to establish their milk supply and basil (as needed)… there might be less “I’d didn’t have enough milk to feed my baby” and more confidence in new mum’s breast feeding!!!

Awesome! Thank you so much! I’ll give that a whirl. I have looked in to multiple supplements for adrenal fatigue but when it comes to the herbal ingredients it seems everything causes contractions. Anyhow, thanks a bunch. Will try this.

Hi Dr! I could really use your opinion on the peppermint issue please. I’m 15 weeks pregnant and have 1 healthy child but have had 4 subsequent miscarriages. Today I made a minty smoothie using a natural brand of pure organic peppermint oil for baking/cooking (not extract). I used about a teaspoon and drank about half of the smoothie. Within hours I noticed brown spotting, when my pregnancy has been otherwise normal. I have a home fetal heartbeat doppler and the heartbeat is still there but this is the first time I’ve had spotting and it is alarming. Thoughts ??!

Thank you for sharing this! I just miscarried at 5 weeks and have been terrified that I caused it by using essential oils. I was just praying that The Lord would give me insight and peace regarding this situation and immediately found your article.

ThankYou so much for this article! I have been scaring myself, as we are actively trying to get pregnant, and I may very well be right now. Hubby is under the weather, and I am exhausted, so as a preventative I just ingested 2 drops of Thieves ( a mixture of clove, rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, cinnamon) basically everything google websites tell you not to ingest early on. I don’t know why I did that; been using oils for years, but forgot to double check the oil in relation to pregnancy. I am trying not to be nervous, and your article and the comments have helped! ThankU!!